eMOLT Update 2025-02-21

Weekly Recap

Welcome to the F/V Tradition, F/V Looney Bin, and F/V Seaborn, which joined the eMOLT program this week thanks to the efforts of Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation, the Center For Coastal Studies, and Rutgers University, respectively.

This week, the eMOLT fleet recorded 122 tows of sensorized fishing gear totaling 936 sensor hours underwater. The warmest recorded bottom temperature was 45.9 F near Bank Comfort in the Gulf of Maine in approximately 101 fathoms (red profile) and the coldest recorded bottom temperature was 27.8 F off the backside of Cape Cod in approximately 1 fathoms (blue profile). Below, you can see these profiles plus a few other temperature profiles of interest across the region from the last week.

The comparatively warm waters at depth in the Gulf of Maine (5 or 6 degrees F warmer than the surface) may be the warm, salty Slope Sea water that can be trapped in the Gulf of Maine (as described in Townsend et al. 2023), although we can’t say for sure without salinity measurements.

profiles from this week

Figure 1 – Temperature profiles collected by eMOLT participants over the last week. The blue profile is where the coldest bottom temperature was measured and the red profile is where the warmest bottom temperature was measured. All other colors are assigned randomly. Colored points on the map indicate where profiles of the same color were collected. The small dark green dots represent other profiles collected this week, but not highlighted in the plot. Note that the warmest / coldest bottom temperatures measured could have occurred during gear soaks, which are not represented on this profile plot.

System Hardware Upgrade List

The following vessels remain on our list for hardware upgrades. If you aren’t on the list and think you should be, please reach out. Note that this list is different from our new install queue.

  • F/V Kaitlyn Victoria
  • F/V Kyler C
  • F/V Noella C
  • F/V Sea Watcher I
  • F/V Virginia Marise

Bottom Temperature Forecasts

Doppio

This week, 29% of bottom temperature observations were within 2 degrees (F) of the Doppio forecasted value at those points. Temps were cooler than expected through much of the region, but warmer than expected Downeast.

Doppio performance

Figure 2 – Performance of the Doppio forecast’s bottom temperature layer over the last week relative to observations collected by eMOLT participants. Red dots indicate areas where bottom temperature observations were warmer that predicted. Blue dots indicate areas where bottom temperature observations were cooler than predicted. Bottom temperature observations are compared with the most recent forecast run available before the observation was made.

Doppio Forecast

Figure 3 – The most recent Doppio bottom temperature forecast. The gray line is the 50 fathom line and the black line is the hundred fathom line. Purple shades indicate cooler water.

Northeast Coastal Ocean Forecast System

NECOFS plot

Figure 4 – The most recent bottom temperature forecast from the Northeast Coastal Ocean Forecast System GOM7 model. The gray line is the 50 fathom line and the black line is the hundred fathom line. Purple shades indicate cooler water.

Mass Bay plot

Figure 5 – The most recent bottom temperature forecast from the Northeast Coastal Ocean Forecast System MassBay model. Purple shades indicate cooler water.

Announcements

Contribute to the 2026 Management Track Fishery Stock Assessments

The Northeast Fisheries Science Center seeks input from our regional assessment partners, including the fishing industry (commercial and recreational), state agency scientists, academic researchers, and interested members of the public to help guide development of our next Management Track Assessments.

Specifically, the NEFSC is looking for on-the-water observations or data sets on topics such as distribution, stock health, fishing dynamics and management, and the role these stocks play in the ecosystem. There are two ways to participate.

There are two ways to participate:

June 2026 Management Track Stocks include

  • Atlantic herring
  • Butterfish
  • Georges Bank Atlantic cod
  • Georges Bank haddock
  • Longfin inshore squid
  • Ocean quahog

Disclaimer

The eMOLT Update is NOT an official NOAA document. Mention of products or manufacturers does not constitute an endorsement by NOAA or Department of Commerce. The content of this update reflects only the personal views of the authors and does not necessarily represent the views of NOAA Fisheries, the Department of Commerce, or the United States.

All the best,

-George and JiM